An independent investigation has found Collingwood guilty of “systemic racism” and recommended significant changes to ensure the AFL club eliminates that “toxic” culture.
The review found racism at Collingwood has resulted in “profound and enduring harm” to First Nations and African players which “affected them, their communities, and set dangerous norms for the public”.
“While claims of racism have been made across the AFL, there is something distinct and egregious about Collingwood’s history,” the report says.
“In the thirty interviews undertaken for this review, there was no clear consensus about what the values of the Collingwood Football Club were.
“Collingwood claims to be guided by four formal values – belonging, commitment, realising potential and caring.
“There is a gap between what Collingwood Football Club says it stands for and what it does.”
The review found there has been a consistent pattern of Collingwood failing to adequately address incidents when they have arisen.
It also found there was an absence of internal avenues for reporting racism in the club until very recently.
“All of this comes back to the leadership of the Collingwood Football Club — particularly its board — and the need for them to set the vision and values of the club and to drive structural change within the organisation,” the report says.
The review found there is a “genuine acknowledgement of past failures and a strong desire to do better”.
Positive steps already taken by Collingwood include the introduction of policies that directly target racism and the appointment of a new CEO who is committed to making changes.
“It needs to be noted and underlined that, in undertaking this review, the club was unflinching in holding up a mirror to itself,” the report says.
The report made 18 recommendations, including urging Collingwood to “implement a framework to ensure that there is accountability and consequences for acts of racism committed by members of the club community”.
It also said the club should “develop a strategy to address and reconcile past acts of racism in a way that is proactive and seeks to reward, not punish, people who speak out against racism”.
The report was commissioned by Collingwood’s board last year after a series of claims made by 2010 premiership player Heritier Lumumba.
The investigation was conducted by Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt and Professor Lindon Coombes, from the University of Technology Sydney.
Their report was handed to the club’s board on December 17.
Days later, long-standing president Eddie McGuire announced he will step down at the end of 2021.
While 30 interviews took place during the review, Lumumba did not participate in the investigation.
Lumumba has previously claimed he was nicknamed “chimp” and that a culture of racist behaviour existed during his time at Collingwood, spanning 10 seasons from 2005-2014.
“It is not appropriate to review those allegations without Mr Lumumba’s involvement,” the report said.
“Nothing in this review can be taken as exonerating the Club from any alleged wrongdoing.”
The report’s authors said there needs to be a serious investigation into Lumumba’s claims, with his participation.
bagley
Roar Rookie
You can still enjoy Wagner and not feel guilty. Racism has been endemic at Collingwood prior to Eddie, Remember Allan McAllister, seems like for 20 years little has changed.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
That's not system racism though.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't be the worst idea for Collingwood to ring Paul Vandenbergh up and see what he is doing ,he ran Port Adelaide's Indigenous Program's for 10 years, highly credentialed and a fantastic person to go with it.He finished up just before xmas with us,not sure why [think he might be a victim of the coronavirus cutbacks we have had to make]...he is a massive loss for us. If Collingwood want to get better in this space he would be a brilliant person to have on board.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
I've read the report. It cites 6 (I think) incidents of racism, 4 of which were from members of the crowd at games, not people involved with the club. To jump from 2 incidents, albeit very ugly incidents, to systemic racism is a very long bow. I'm not saying that there's not a problem at Collingwood - clearly there was a culture of acceptance of casual racism, and clearly they lack systems and processes. My argument is just that they shouldn't use a race activist (which Langton no doubt it) to undertake what is meant to be an objective review. Having said that, most of the recommendations look perfectly reasonable, but I think some of the language used is too strong and inflammatory. There are also some very big assumptions made to reach the conclusions of the report. A lack of proper process and governance does not equal systemic racism. The report was based on media reports of prior incidents, some dating back 50 years and interviews, but not interviews with the players. Most of the interviews looked to be with people who aren't directly involved with the day to day running of the club; the people who were involved in the incidents cited weren't interviewed. That's not a scientific report, that's opinions.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
It very much looks that way. The demands for his head have become a deafening roar now.
RT
Roar Rookie
Lately?
Kramer
Guest
So that’s where the the guy of colour stole your girlfriend. It all makes sense now.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I think so pts,reminds me of when Ollie Wines broke protocols at Port for doing a interview at home during Corona Virus rules and Eddie basically blamed Ollie and Port for putting the AFL season in Jeopardy,fast forward a couple of months and Sidebottom fiasco occured and Eddie made fun of it...not comparing this to the topic at hand but seems to be a recurring thing lately with him
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I hear what you say, but I just couldn’t call him that.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Yes, I accept all that but I don’t believe he is r6cist and he has a good heart. Despite his best efforts he is not serving Collingwood well at the moment.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
He got the nickname for his love of chocolate ice cream or a chocolate bar,one or the other
IDeals22
Roar Rookie
That's blunt and damn funny :laughing:
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
I also went to Uni. So did thousands of others. Whoop de doo.
Greg
Roar Rookie
Give it up WASS. You are not in their class.
Greg
Roar Rookie
The report was a scientific one. Which means it's capable of being disproved. All you have to do is examine how they came to their conclusions. Then you can contradict it, as long as you have done the research. Otherwise, it's just an opinion.
matth
Roar Guru
It's actually quite common. I know plenty of people who come out with casually racist attitude and comments and would be horrified that anyone would think they are racist.
matth
Roar Guru
He's made a number of comments and they have been more than just silly. And now he tried to spin a report shining a light on systemic racism as a positive.
matth
Roar Guru
Education BAD!
RT
Roar Rookie
Funny how Dan Andrews has come out and said McGuire should not resign because you don't run from problems. Like Dan, don't run from problems, but also don't admit anything or show you have learnt from your mistakes. (To his credit, though it is a guess, I think Dan has learnt from his mistakes, Eddie never has though.) Eddie has been a Labor suck for a while now. Stand by for his next career move.
RT
Roar Rookie
I don’t think the AFL is being particularly woke in regards to racism, but really just addressing the issue exactly how you say, within the game. If anything backfired with Goodes it was the AFL’s reluctance to speak up, especially with regards to McGuire’s stupid comments.